This media group is under the authority of the National Assembly and operates the Legislative Television channel (TVL) and the National Assembly Radio channel (La Radio de la AN).
Media assets
Television: Televisión Legislativa
Radio: Radio Asamblea Nacional
State Media Matrix Typology:
Ownership and governance
The Medios Legislativos operates as a branch of the National Assembly, falling under the jurisdiction of the office that manages the Television and Radio of the Ecuadorian Congress. This office is supervised by the Congress’s Secretary of Communication. The President of the National Assembly designates both the office itself and the Secretary, adhering to the stipulations laid out in the Assembly’s Regulations. Moreover, the television and radio channels under the Medios Legislativos banner are each helmed by a leader, who directly answers to the office overseeing Medios Legislativos.
Source of funding and budget
According to the most recent data, Medios Legislativos secured approximately US$ 468,000 in total funding during 2019. Of this sum, nearly US$ 301,000 was earmarked for the television channel, whereas the radio station was allotted US$ 166,000. The outlet is entirely bankrolled by the state budget, and no subsequent financial updates have been provided since that time.
Editorial independence
Medios Legislativos operates entirely under the purview of Congress, where the ruling party holds the majority, resulting in its broadcasts leaning heavily in favor of the president.
According to Ecuador’s Organic Law of the Legislative Function, the National Assembly—the nation’s legislative body—is empowered to establish and oversee “institutional media.” The law delegates the Legislative Administration Council with the authority to draft the necessary regulations and operational guidelines for these outlets, ensuring compliance under the Assembly’s supervision and in coordination with Medios Legislativos. The media entity is obliged to follow a codified set of ethics, which its employees must adhere to.
Our research unearthed no provision explicitly guaranteeing the broadcaster’s editorial independence. Likewise, no independent reviews or oversight mechanisms were identified to assess whether Medios Legislativos operates autonomously in its editorial practices.
March 2025